MDC Partners Hires Chief Growth Officer

Nadal fills new role with Deutsch exec

MDC Partners has poached Deutsch’s Chad Saul to lead business development efforts at the Canadian holding company.

As chief growth officer—a new position—Saul will work closely with MDC shops such as Crispin Porter + Bogusky, Kirshenbaum Bond Senecal + Partners, and 72andSunny. He’ll also help with mergers and acquisitions. He’ll start July 9 and report to CEO Miles Nadal.

In taking the job, Saul cited MDC's "unique and diverse roster" of 53 agencies. "Beyond that, the opportunity to work closely with someone of Miles' background and success rate is something I could not resist," he said.

Nadal, in turn, described Saul as an "undeniable talent with a fantastic record of growth," adding, "His drive, entrepreneurial spirit and personal, dynamic approach with clients are a perfect match for the way we operate at MDC."

In his new role, Saul, 41, becomes part of a leadership team that includes Bob Kantor, chief marketing and business development officer, who joined MDC in 2009.

Saul joined Deutsch LA as director of business development in 2007, when the agency had about 300 staffers and accounts such as DirecTV and Real California Cheese.

Since then, the Interpublic Group shop, under CEO Mike Sheldon, has added significant business from the likes of Volkswagen of America, Sony PlayStation, HTC, Dr Pepper and Snapple. Today, its headcount totals around 475.

This year, Deutsch LA also reached the finals of Hewlett-Packard’s global personal computing review—which BBDO won in May—and Southwest Airlines’ ongoing creative search. The other contenders for the Southwest assignment are TBWA\Chiat\Day, Arnold and Leo Burnett.

Saul rose to chief marketing officer at Deutsch last year. The agency is expected to begin a search to fill the role.

Earlier in his career, Saul was director of field operations at Publicis Groupe’s Team One and a regional director at Havas’ Arnold, where he spent 10 years. His first advertising job was an account coordinator on McDonald's and Safeway at McCann Erickson.